Group Seeks Mainstream Education For Children With Special Needs In Bauchi

A Civil Society Organisation (CSO) in Bauchi State, Women with Disability Integrity Initiative, has requested the placement of children with special needs in mainstream schools to promote equal access to education.

Asma’u Yahaya, the founder of the organisation made this call on Wednesday in Bauchi at an interactive session to commemorate 2023 International Education Day, with the theme “To Invest in School, invest in Education”.

During the event organised by Ikra Foundation for Women and Youth Development, a non-governmental organisation in the state, Yahaya urged the government to improve the facilities at the special schools to accelerate the learning process of the children. 

“However, some children have multiple disabilities, hence the facility should be improved.

“The special school in the state has no vocational training centre for the students to complement their conventional studies.

“Mainstreaming the children will provide ways to interact with normal children; address issues of stigmatisation and face educational challenges together,” she said.

Yahaya maintained that children with special needs can compete with their peers if given the opportunity.